It is important to speak French as much as possible! Check out what the Board of our American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages has to say about it:Use of the Target Language in the Classroom (May 2010)Research indicates that effective language instruction must provide significant levels of meaningful communication* and interactive feedback in the target language in order for students to develop language and cultural proficiency. The pivotal role of target-language interaction in language learning is emphasized in the K-16 Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. ACTFL therefore recommends that language educators and their students use the target language as exclusively as possible (90% plus) at all levels of instruction during instructional time and, when feasible, beyond the classroom. In classrooms that feature maximum target-language use, instructors use a variety of strategies to facilitate comprehension and support meaning making. For example, they:

make meaning clear through body language, gestures, and visual support;

conduct comprehension checks to ensure understanding;

negotiate meaning with students and encourage negotiation among students;

elicit talk that increases in fluency, accuracy, and complexity over time;

encourage self-expression and spontaneous use of language;

teach students strategies for requesting clarification and assistance when faced with comprehension difficulties; and

offer feedback to assist and improve students’ ability to interact orally in the target language.

*Communication for a classical language refers to an emphasis on reading ability and for American Sign Language (ASL) to signed communicative ability.

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY DECLAMATION CONTESTDo you enjoy reciting poems? If your answer is yes, see me for details! The competition is on Saturday, October 27, 2012!

NATIONAL FRENCH WEEK (Sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.)
Thursday, November 8th through Wednesday, November 14, 2012THEME 2012:Consider participating in one of the three contests: Video/Animation, Poster, or Essay!Description of French Contests Rules, deadlines, etc.

Points supplémentaires

Earn up to five extra points on major assessments by creating ONE Jeopardy review game in French each time we begin a new unit.
Stay tuned for the deadline for each unit.‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍You must include accents‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍.
1. Type your questions/answers with accents and then copy and paste here: French Keyboard
2. Click on this link to go to the Jeopary Labs website.
3. Click on 'Start Building.'
3. Type a password. (You must create a new password each time you create a game. It's so you can go to your game link and edit later if need be.)
4. Start adding categories and answers/questions from the French Keyboard, using copy/paste. Everything must be in FRENCH.Possible Categories:VOCABULAIRE -Type a mix of 3 words that are similar and one that is not. The answer will be the one that does not belong.
-Type the French word. The answer is the English word. (Remember to include articles: le/la/l'/les or un/une/des.)VERBES - Type the French verb in the infinitive. The answer is the English translation.
- Type the conjugated verb with its subject. The answer is the English meaning. Ex: Vous travaillez. You work.EXPRESSIONS - Type the French expression. The answer is the English translation.CULTURE - Type the French word for something you've learned about French culture in the unit. The answer is the English word. Ex: l'arbitre - the refereeMASCULIN OU FÉMININ? - Write a French word without the article to state gender. The answer is the appropriate article. Ex. _ biologie - LA
***Use these questions, too, to change it up.
To start a question in which you ask for a translation - Comment dit-on (English word) en français?
To start a question in which you ask for meaning - Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire,(French word)?
To start a question in which you ask for the masculine, plural form of a word: Comment ça s'écrit, (French word), au masculin, pluriel?
To start a question in which you ask for the feminine, singular form of a word: Comment ça s'écrit, (French word), au féminin, singulier?
To start a question in which you ask for the feminine, plural form of a word: Comment ça s'écrit, (French word), au féminin, pluriel?
5. Click on the SAVE button in the bottom left-hand corner.
6. Copy and paste the link into an e-mail to me. OR Write it down somewhere and then send it to me. CAREFUL! You must have the link or you'll lose your work.